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Stories by Mike Tontimonia

Before leaving for North Dakota to hunt ducks on expansive Devil’s Lake, one of the nation’s premier waterfowl spots, I had wished for low gas prices, good weather, and a few other uncontrollable verbs. What I always dread are statements too often heard such as “you should have been here last week” and “the birds […]

There’s just the slightest hint of light to the east, a promise of coming action. The law says that shooting time is one half hour before published daylight and duck hunters on the whole follow that decree to the minute. Digging in a pocket produced a new watch for a time check. Ducks It would […]

That is, if a picture reminding one of that great memory exists and can be found. Thus, every hunter, angler, hiker, and outdoor enthusiast ought to be armed and somewhat familiar with a decent digital camera. A camera small enough for a handy inside pocket and loaded with an unfilled memory card and fully charged […]

Electronics and technology have changed the way sportsmen do things. Anglers used to find fish by fishing for them. Of course using visible cues at known fish hangouts helped fishermen, in the hunt and so did good old fashion experience. If you caught fish near Smith’s boat dock or the around the rock pile by […]

Deer hunting in Ohio draws the most interest from hunters, far exceeding any other hunting activity. While serious deer hunters have been thinking about their favorite pasttime for months, the real thing starts this weekend with the opening of archery season. That means dreams, scouting, shooting practice, gear prep, shopping, and talking about it ends […]

Build it and they will come may have worked like a charm for the big screen dreamer who built a baseball diamond in his cornfield, but that simple statement also proved true for Maggie and Frank Navarrete when they bet their future on a small store filled with top shelf fishing tackle, a few thousand […]

A car or truck has a VIN — a Vehicle Identification Number — and a boat must have a HIN, a Hull Identification Number. A HIN is the boat’s serial number which is stamped on a metal tag or otherwise placed indelibly on the rear right (starboard) of the boat. Like a finger print, a […]

With the current interest in Lake Erie yellow perch fishing it seems appropriate to seek answers to the most asked questions. Experienced perch jerker William Hookim will share his thoughts and guidance. Q: When is the best time to go perch fishing on Lake Erie? Morning or evening, spring, summer or fall? Hookim said, “I’ve […]

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About Mike

Mike Tontimonia has been writing weekly columns and magazine features about the outdoors for over 25 years, a career that continues to hold the same excitement for him as it did at the beginning. Mike is a retired educator, a licensed auctioneer, and marketing consultant. He lives in Ravenna, Ohio and enjoys spending time at his Carroll County cabin.
Mike has hunted and fished in several states and Canada from the Carolinas to Alaska and from Idaho to Delaware. His readers have often commented that the stories about his adventures are about as close to being there as possible. He is past president of the Outdoor Writers of Ohio and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. Mike is also very involved in his community as a school board member and a Rotarian.